I was thinking about being pregnant and pregnancy in general and I just don’t think I am a fan of this state. I know some women think of their pregnancy in a romantic, wistful way, they miss it and want to be pregnant again. I thought I’d get that way when Alexis started kicking, and then when that didn’t happen I thought I’d love being pregnant when I feel better- but that didn’t happen either. So I am realizing now that I simply don’t think of pregnancy as this sweet beautiful time. I think of it as the necessary 10 months of being slightly to very uncomfortable that you deal with, 10 months that you do your absolute best to grow a healthy baby, 10 months of changing everything about yourself and things you do to give her the best opportunity to grow and develop- 10 very important and commendable months.
Don’t get me wrong- I love when Alexis moves, I love feeling her and knowing she’s here, I love reading to her and singing songs and interacting with her the only way possible right now. But that’s not enough for me. I don’t want to her to be inside of me – I want her to be here, for real, so that I could actually see her ( I’m a visual person, I guess), and touch her and see her reactions. I have exactly 2 months till her due date and I will wait it out diligently and patiently – I want her to be healthy and full term and come whenever she wants. I don’t want to rush it, I’ll wait. But I’ll make no bones about it- I’d rather have her on the outside than the inside.
I also wonder if that’s going to change once she’s here and I know just how MUCH I love her. I wonder if THAT will make me look at my pregnant time and wish for the closeness we had…
But as of right now, I love her to pieces and I want her in my arms! And let me tell you, 10 months is a very long time- knowing about her from the first day of conception and wanting her here takes a lot of patience {not that any of us have a choice}
STATS:
Her size: Last week she was 3lb 12 oz, and now headed into a growth spurt! Watch out Elena’s Belly!
How far along: 31 WEEKS
Total weight gain: 160.8 lb (that’s 0.8 lb for this week for a total of 24.8 lbs).
Sleep: So uncomfortable and sore. I do have good nights of sleep but generally sleeping on one side is really uncomfortable. I’m having to switch sides all throughout the night. Bathroom trips? Ha! I’m veteran- they don’t bother me anymore. I’ve been waking up 3-4 times a night to pee since the first trimester.
Maternity Clothes: All the time now. Anything non-maternity just doesn’t cut it anymore- it fits but it’s so uncomfortable.
Food cravings: Asian pears ( the ones that are $2.99 a pop at Whole Foods- expensive cravings, I gotta tell you)
Food aversions: none
Symptoms I HAVE: I got sciatic pain! {Ha-ha} I feel like it’s an achievement. {lol} Not really- it hurts! It started with the fact that Alexis flipped head down. I’d been doing inversions from spinningbabies.com to get her to flip and she did (sort of. She was on my right side head down). Then I spent the whole day walking around doing things and had a pretty fast long walk in the morning as well, and by the evening I was limping in my right foot. The pain feels like normal muscular pain in my right buttock. After resting it for a day, I’m back to feeling normal. Plus it seems Alexis flipped into transverse again and took the pressure of the sciatic nerve.
Also I’ve had a few evenings of slight nausea- not sure if it’s pregnancy related or what.
Doctor’s Appointment: Early December
Movement: She’s very active again! It’s starting to get painful especially when she kicks in one of my sides. I do love when she’s active! You might hear an occasional “Ouch!” from me, but I smile on the inside every time she jabs a foot into my side or sticks her butt out so much I think my belly is going to explode.
Belly Button: An outie- it sticks out from clothes too- I think that’s cute!
Gender: GIRL!
Best moment of the week: Getting things done! I’ve really gotten off my butt this week and concentrated on getting everything done. With so many distractions I have nowadays ( will tell you about that in my birth plan post), it’s hard to get yourself back on track. What I need and what I thrive with is a very detailed to-do list or a few of them ( especially when there are a lot of items on it). I spend the whole day simply going down that to-do list without giving it another thought- and that’s the only way I feel good and productive and like everything or most everything is getting done.
What I’m looking forward to:
Going to the beach.
What I miss:
Beach, pre-pregnancy clothes, pre-pregnancy size, my pre-pregnancy skinny jeans, my friends from up north.
{I know I have been a bit scarce on posting and commenting these past weeks, but as I am digging up from under the pile of to-do lists and things I have to get done, I see the light at the end of the tunnel. Once all the baby stuff is bought this Black Friday/Cyber Monday and I reorganize myself and reshift my priorities (I’ve been mainly concentrating on researching baby purchases up until now), I’ll be back to posting almost every day. I have so many fun posts planned that I cannot wait to get your opinion and feedback on. So it’s going to get a lot more interesting here, but for now all I can find time to do is my weekly update and the Sunday Pregnant with Style feature.}
I love your popped out belly button!
Well, some say there is a reason why pregnancy lasts 9 months and not shorter. One of them, I guess, is a chance to learn how to be PACIENT 🙂 First, we’re urged to see/hear the heartbeat, than to know the sex and then to hold the baby. And all that is just needed to enjoy the newborn even more ? And to be REALLY prepared, also emotionally. So just think you’re closer than further 😉
You look great! Your belly really has popped out! Very cute!
You’ll miss this don’t worry:) if your going though the same faise I went through its just cause your so “CUTE” all the time, you miss being little you, and you want to be back there and be a mommy not just a prego, this is the HUGE pain in the butt time:) you’ll miss it:)
I didn’t enjoy being pregnant at all. It always amazed me, and made me feel a little bit guilty, when other women gushed about how much they loved being pregnant because I just couldn’t relate. The birth though – wow, as painful and as long as it was, I wouldn’t trade that for anything. I guess we all experience things differently!
I can’t wait to experience birth- I think it’s amazing!
Goodness, look at you. You look great and smiling all the way….
I agree with you WHOLEHEARTEDLY about pregnancy feelings. I was feeling guilty about not adoring my pregnant state (although LOVING that I was pregnant and loving to feel Lillian in me). Not once since giving birth have I gotten nostalgic for my pregnancy! Well, maybe a slight tinge a couple times. But I agree….I wanted her outside my body and living with us! Couldn’t be better!
You are looking just too cute! I’ve loved your updates, I’m doing a similar one on my blog – although I’m only at week 20 🙂 Happy last 9 weeks of pregnancy!
Right now she is all yours. No one else can hold her or keep her warm and fed. Right now it’s just you and her. This is the only time in both of your lives that it will be like this. It’s a closeness you will never have with her again. Enjoy the next 2 months!
I can see that! It would feel different.
I like how you worded this post.
What I will say to you – is I HATED, absolutely HATED with every fiber of my being, being pregnant. Every single minute I was miserable. Super sick to super uncomfortable. And we decided not to have any more.
But there are times when I do kinda miss it. I love my son so much, and sometimes, when I’m sitting there with him, I think about the times when he would kick in my belly, and I DO actually miss that closeness. Not enough to make me ever want to do it again, but I do get a bit nostalgic about it.
The other problem? You get SO much attention when you’re pregnant…especially when it is your first. That stops almost instantly when the baby comes and it’s hard to deal with sometimes. Sometimes I find myself missing the hospital, actually MISSING being prepped for my emergency c-section, because I knew back then, I (and of course the baby in my belly) was most important. I miss that attention, sometimes.
Great post.
Ugh, attention is one thing I won’t miss. I try to avoid it at all costs! 🙂 But I do see how you might be able to get nostalgic about it later…I am just not crazy about it all now 🙂
I wonder if we’ll decide that one baby is enough for us…. 🙂
You’re getting so close! I haven’t been pregnant yet, but I can’t imagine it’s something I would enjoy. It’s nice that your honest about it. Not everyone has to have a good time. Sometimes women gush and go on and on about how much they enjoy it and miss it and I’m thinking really… nothing bad at all about being hijacked by a tiny person… sure.
I’m sure I’ll be the same, and want to get to the part where the baby is just HERE and ready to love! 🙂
I 100% agree!! I am 25 weeks and haven’t really enjoyed the pregnancy. I know it will all be more than worth it and I am sure I will go thru it again, but I can’t wait to have my baby and feel like me again! 🙂
Hey Elena. I’ve just found your blog and I love it!!! I’ve just started my second trimester and I love seeing your bump updates. I’m still not really showing yet. I’m just wondering if you’ve had your baby shower yet?? I can’t wait to see the pics (or maybe I’ve missed them in a previous post). Also, how are your antenatal classes going?? Have you met lots of other young mums in your area?
Hey, Jennifer! Thanks! Congrats on entering 2nd trimester! That was a big milestone for me.
I haven’t had a baby shower and told everyone that I do not want one. I don’t like the idea of baby showers. Instead we’re throwing a baby party after Alexis arrives to celebrate her birth. That way we can make it more fun than just sitting around opening gifts, and co-ed, which is really important since half of my friends are male plus I will look and feel better postpartum as well. Also, not taking any childbirth classes, since I’m reading more than enough books- there’s really nothing I can learn from a class at this point. We will be doing a hospital tour and an infant CPR class though in December. I have met quite a few young moms strangely enough since I didn’t think we had that many families/young people in our area and I’m sure that will continue.
When are you due? How has your pregnancy experience been?
Hey Elena,
Can’t believe it’s 31 + weeks already! Gosh I missed a lot! That’s because I was on the other blog =/
Happy to hear that she’s healthy and you guys are great =)
Hope I can share these things one day (soon!)
Hey, KellyAnn! Thanks, sweety! I know time has been flying! I’ll be back on the other blog eventually- I just need to get caught up on some things without extra distractions. But keep following me here 🙂
Each week of my pregnancy, I go back and read your entry for that same week when you were pregnant with Alexis 🙂
I feel exactly what you describe here about pregnancy. I don’t love the physical state of being pregnant; I just love knowing there is a baby coming soon, and I want that to be as soon as possible (but healthy and full term)!
That’s really good to hear! I’ll tell you this. It’s amazing, it’s life changing, you will love it. But also that nothing you hear, not what I say, not what others will sink in until you have your baby. You’re really close 🙂